Under-deck shedding and drainage system

Abstract

This invention comprises a grid structure that with the addition of panels and a panel holding means, and the further addition of a gutter and downspout provides an effective under-deck water shedding system where the grid and panel components generally are set or slide into place and generally can be lifted or slide out of place for adjustment, maintenance or removal.

1 . A shedding apparatus, for use under decks, the apparatus comprising 
 a low-ledger, with an upper-face and an adjacent upstanding-face, said upstanding-face extending above said upper-face, with an upper-edge at the top of and extending normal to said upstanding-face,    a high-ledger, with an upper-face and an adjacent upstanding-face, said upstanding-face extending above said upper-face,    a plurality of sloping-members, each with an upper-face, a first-end, a second-end, and with one or more small projections from said upper-face, such as one or more partially driven nails,    a plurality of cross-members, each cross-member comprising a middle-portion and two end-portions, each end-portion with an upper-face, the middle-portion with an upper-face and two ends, said upper-face of the middle-portion and said upper-faces of the end-portions practically co-planar,    one or more panels having corrugations,    a panels holding means,    said low-ledger and said high-ledger adapted to be attached to a proximate structure,    said low-ledger and said high-ledger oriented such that said upstanding-face of said high-ledger faces said upstanding-face of said low-ledger,    said sloping-members disposed normal to said low-ledger, and each substantially extending from said upstanding-face of said low-ledger to said upstanding-face of said high-ledger, said first-end of each sloping-member resting upon said upper-face of said low-ledger, said second-end of each sloping-member resting upon said upper-face of said high-ledger, wherein said sloping-members can be positioned at generally uniform intervals along the ledgers,    said cross-members generally parallel with said low-ledger, said middle-portions substantially extending from one sloping member to the next, said end-portions of said cross-members resting upon said upper-faces of said sloping-members, each end-portion proximate one or more said small projections of said sloping-member, wherin said cross-members interface with said projections and said sloping-members, wherin the end-portions of said cross-members are held by an interface with said sloping members, and wherin said sloping-members are laterally restrained, wherein a grid support structure is formed, whereby grid members can be snapped or set into position, unsnapped or lifted out of position without requiring tools for fastening or unfastening, whereby the grid can be installed, adjusted, and uninstalled from below itself, whereby the ease of installation and removal is facilitated, and whereby, access to the area above the grid for maintenance and other reasons is greatly facilitated,    wherein the upper-faces of the cross-members are substantially co-planar,    said panels resting upon said cross-members, oriented with rise and fall of corugations normal to said low-ledger, said panels overlapping, wherein a substantilay planer shedding surface is formed over the grid, whereby said panels can be set into position, shifted or lifted out of position without requiring tools for fastening or unfastening, whereby the panels can be installed and uninstalled from below, wherby the ease of installation and removal is facilitated, and whereby, access to the area above the panels for maintenance and other reasons is greatly facilitated.    
     
     
         12 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said low-ledger comprises a 2×2fastened to the face of a deckboard, whereby said low-ledger can be proficiently manufactured from wood and is aesthetically pleasing in a deck environment.  
     
     
         13 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said high-ledger comprises a 2×2fastened to the face of a deckboard, whereby said low-ledger can be proficiently manufactured from wood and is aesthetically pleasing in a deck environment.  
     
     
         14 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said sloping-member comprises a 2×2 with said small projections, whereby said sloping-member can be proficiently manufactured from wood and is aesthetically pleasing in a deck environment  
     
     
         15 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said small projection of said sloping-member is a partially driven nail,  
     
     
         16 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said end-portion of said cross-member is of diminutive thickness, wherein said upper-surface of said sloping-member and said upper-surface of said cross-member are substantially co-planer, wherein the vertical height of the grid is reduced providing a sleeker profile, whereby the apperace of the awning from outside and below is less obtrusive and aesthetically pleasing.  
     
     
         17 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said-cross-member comprises a wood slat with a plastic bracket at each end, whereby said cross-member can be proficiently manufactured from wood and plastic brackets, and is aesthetically pleasing in a deck environment.  
     
     
         18 . Said sheding-appartus of  17 , wherein said plastic bracket is ⅛″ pvc with a hollow, wherein said hollow of said plastic bracket is fitted around said projection of said sloping member.  
     
     
         19 . Said shedding apparatus of  11 , wherein said panel holding means is a panel clip.  
     
     
         20 . Said shedding apparatus of  1 , further comprising a spacer, said spacer comprising a wood slat and a fastening means, wherein the spacer is fastened to the upstanding face of the high-ledger, whereby each spacer effectively replaces a cross-member, and whereby said sloping-member is laterally constrainted by said spacer, yet said sloping member can be lifted out and re-set into position without use of tools.  
     
     
         21 , Said shedding apparatus of  11 , further comprising flashing at at the high-ledger as a panel holding means.  
     
     
         22 . Said shedding apparatus of  11  further comprising a fascia-board.  
     
     
         23 . Said shedding apparatus of  11  further comprising a gutter and downspout.  
     
     
         24 . Said shedding apparatus of  11  further comprising endboards, said endboard comprising a joist hanger and a plate with a face, said joist hanger fastened to said face of said plate, said plate adapted to be fastened to a proximate structure, wherein said low-ledger or said high-ledgerr sets in said joist hanger, whrereby the ledger can be set into and lifted out of said joist hanger without fastening or use of tools,  
     
     
         25 . A grid apparatus for supporting panels, the apparatus comprising a low-ledger, with an upper-face and an adjacent upstanding-face, said upstanding-face extending above said upper-face, with an upper-edge at the top of and extending normal to said upstanding-face, 
 a high-ledger, with an upper-face and an adjacent upstanding-face, said upstanding-face extending above said upper-face,    a plurality of sloping-members, each with an upper-face, a first-end, a second-end, and with one or more small projections from said upper-face, such as one or more partially driven nails    one or more cross-members, each cross-member comprising a middle-portion and two end-portions, the middle-portion with an upper-face and two ends, each end-portion with an upper-face and an under-side, said upper-face of the middle-portion and said upper-faces of the end-portions practically co-planar,    said low-ledger and said high-ledger oriented such that said upstanding-face of said high-ledger faces said upstanding-face of said low-ledger,    said sloping-members disposed normal to said low-ledger, and each substantially extending from said upstanding-face of said low-ledger to said upstanding-face of said high-ledger, said first-end of each sloping-member resting upon said upper-face of said low-ledger and said second-end of each sloping-member resting upon said upper-face of said high-ledger,    said cross-members generally parallel with said low-ledger, said middle-portions substantially extending from one sloping member to the next, said end-portions of said cross-members resting upon said upper-faces said sloping-members, each end-portion proximate one or more said small projections of said sloping-member, making an interface as a holding means, wherin a grid structure is formed, with a substantially co-planer upper-surface is formed, whereby the grid members can be snapped or set into position, unsnapped or lifted out of position without requiring tools for fastening or unfastening, whereby the grid can be installed, adjusted, and uninstalled from below, wherby the ease of installation and removal is facilitated, and whereby, access to the area above the grid for maintenance and other reasons is greatly facilitated,    wherein the upper surfaces of the cross-members are substantially co-planar, whereby providing a support surface for panels.